Universal Wiring wins San Diego shore power contract

The deal is worth $463,500. Construction is anticipated to begin in October with installation completed in early 2025. 

Either port or starboard connection points

This connection will provide more flexibility to a wider variety of ships that have either port or starboard shore power connection points.

This new outlet will further help improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on and around San Diego Bay by enabling more cruise ships to easily connect to shore power. 

This follows on the Port of San Diego's adopton of a Maritime Clean Air Strategy in October 2021.

Economic impact

'The cruise industry injects hundreds of millions of dollars into our local economy and we will continue to modernize its operations as the technology becomes available in a responsible environmental fashion,' said Chairman Frank Urtasun, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners.

First installation 2010

San Diego installed its first shore power connection at the cruise terminals in 2010, making it among the first in California to have shore power available for cruise ships as well as being well ahead of the California Air Resources Board At-Berth Regulation requiring reduction of diesel particulate emissions from at least 50% of cruise calls by nearly four years.

A second shore power plug was installed in 2022 allowing for two ships to simultaneously hook up.

$29.5m invested for cruise and cargo

Port of San Diego's investment in adding shore power at its cruise and cargo terminals totals approximately $29.5m in infrastructure projects to date.